Headlands Beach State Park

Headlands Beach State Park is a 120-acre state park in Mentor, Ohio, managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Its defining feature is a mile-long natural sand beach, which the agency describes as the largest in the state.

The park suits swimmers, sunbathers, walkers, and anglers looking for lake access close to the city. Swimming is permitted in designated areas, though the park notes there are no guards on duty, and a loaner life vest program is available. Anglers can fish from a federal breakwall at the east end of the park for walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and steelhead, subject to Ohio fishing regulations and a valid license for those 16 and older.

Plan your visit

Trails

5 named routes 5.31 mi of walkable ways mapped within 2 km

1.91 Buckeye Trail
0.62 Lighthouse Trail
0.18 Prospect Street
0.18 Sand Dune Trail
0.15 Boardwalk Trail

Camping & lodging

1 mapped camping locations

Site types & reservations: see the official site.

Know before you go

Address: 9601 Headlands Road, Mentor, OH, 44060
Phone: (440) 466-8400
Official site: ohiodnr.gov
Managed by: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Hours: One half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. See rules about legitimate recreational activities. If you have questions, call the park office.

On the ground

A paved hike/bike trail runs the length of the park, giving visitors access to different areas of Headlands as well as to the adjoining Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, which offers additional trails of its own. The Buckeye Trail, a pet-friendly route marked with blue blazes, is described by the park as 1.5 miles and easy, and it connects into this same corridor. The shorter Lighthouse Trail leads toward the park's namesake lakefront landmark, while the Sand Dune Trail and Boardwalk Trail thread through the dune terrain that separates the beach from the parking and picnic areas.

The sand at Headlands has an unusual origin: nearly all of it accumulated after the Federal Breakwall project began depositing material along the shore in the 1820s, and prevailing wind has since piled it into dunes throughout the park and the neighboring nature preserve. A large, shady picnic area at the east end of the park can host several groups at once, and a reservable shelterhouse nearby holds up to 40 people with electric access, picnic tables, a preparation table, and two charcoal grills. In winter, when conditions allow, the same open ground supports sledding and cross-country skiing.

Practical notes

Park hours run from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. The park office can be reached at (440) 466-8400, and the shelterhouse can be reserved through www.reserveohio.com or (866) 644-6727.